Drink-drive related death figures on the rise

There has been a significant increase in the number of drink-drive-related deaths and injuries on British roads, according to government figures released today.

The Department for Transport has revealed the estimated number of collisions and accidents for 2016 where at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit rose seven per cent on 2015 to 6,080.

It also showed the provisional estimate for drink-drive deaths was between 200 and 280, up from between 180 and 220 in 2015. However, this puts 2016’s figures on par with those recorded between 2010 and 2014.

The report also indicates that 1,792 road fatalities were reported in 2016, 13 per cent of which involved at least one driver over the alcohol limit.

The provisional figures, which are based on coroners’ and procurators’ fiscal reports for 27 per cent of the drivers or riders who were killed on the road in 2016, also show an increase in the number of people killed or suffering injuries of any severity from 8,470 in 2015 to 9,050 in 2016.

Pete Williams, road safety spokesman for motoring organisation RAC, said: “While a final figure won’t be available for a number of months, the picture that emerges from the latest drink-drive statistics is a disturbing one.

“At best, progress in reducing fatal crashes as a result of people drinking and driving continues to stall, and at worse there has been an increase for the first time since 2009 – which would be the biggest year-on-year rise in such crashes since 2000.

“We need more communication on exactly what the current strategy is for tackling a crime which can have such devastating consequences. The police also need to have the resources they need to robustly enforce the law and make our roads a safer place – the sharp fall in dedicated roads policing officers we have witnessed in recent years has surely not helped.”

Despite an increase in the number of alcohol-related road deaths, the overall picture remains steadier. The latest figures for the year ending September 2017 show 1,720 road deaths, a decrease of four per cent.

Meanwhile, 27,010 people were killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents in the same period, but this can’t be compared with previous data because of changes to the way police forces report injury severity.

We have contacted the Department for Transport for comment.